President Obama Makes First Overseas Trip

President Obama's first trip across the Atlantic has included visits to six countries. Obama, originally scheduled to return to Washington after two final days in Turkey, took a surprise detour to Baghdad to visit American troops serving in Iraq.

April 7

President Obama , with Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan, tours the Blue Mosque in Istanbul, Turkey, April 7, 2009. Visiting the 400-year old mosque was part Obama's mission to highlight a renewal of ties between the U.S. and the Muslim world.

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April 7

Police detain a demonstrator during a protest against President Obama's visit, in Istanbul. Obama acknowledged the world's negative views of America in front of a town hall in Istanbul. "America, like every other nation, has made mistakes and has its flaws," he said. "But for more than two centuries, we have strived at great cost and sacrifice to form a more perfect union."

Osman Orsal-Reuters

April 7

Tourists try to take a picture of the convoy carrying President Obama near Hagia Sofia, in Istanbul. White House officials declared themselves pleased with Obama's five-country tour in recent days despite criticism that Obama was rebuffed by European nations on extra spending to boost the global economy and sending more troops to Afghanistan.

Dimitri Messinis-AP

April 7

President Obama speaks during a student discussion at the Tophane Cultural Centre in Istanbul. "Each time we find ourselves at a crossroads, paralyzed by worn debates and stale thinking, the old ways of doing things, a new generation rises up and shows the way forward," Obama said, adding a favorite campaign mantra: "This is our generation. This is our time."

Saul Loeb-AFP/Getty Images

April 7

President Obama meets with religious leaders, including Istanbul Chief Rabbi of Istanbul Isak Haleva, center, and Armenian Patriarch for All Turkey Mesrob II Archbishop Aram Stesyan in Istanbul. Obama, seeking to boost ties with a key Muslim ally, touted Washington's strong ties with Turkey on April 6 and reiterated his support for Turkey's bid to join the European Union.

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April 7

Demonstrators shout anti-President Obama slogans during a protest in Istanbul. Obama left Istanbul on Air Force One shortly after 2 p.m. local time.

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April 7

President Obama waves before boarding Air Force One in Istanbul. The president was scheduled to fly back to Washington, D.C., but instead detoured to Iraq in a surprise visit to American troops serving in the improving, though still volatile, war zone.

Mandel Ngan-AFP/Getty Images

April 7

President Barack Obama, right, steps off Air Force One upon arrival at Baghdad International Airport in an unannouced trip to visit U.S. troops. Making his first trip to Iraq as commander in chief as the war enters its seventh year, Obama flew to Iraq from neighboring Turkey.

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April 7

President Obama addreses military personnel at Camp Victory in Baghdad. The president drew wild cheers from the troops when he declared that it was time for Iraqis to "take responsibility for their country."

Charles Dharapak-AP

April 7

President Obama greets military personnel in Baghdad. Obama also told the troops that the next 18 months are "going to be a critical period." He referred to an Aug. 31, 2010, deadline he has set for the withdrawal of U.S. combat brigades from Iraq as part of a plan to end the war there and pull all U.S. forces out by the end of 2011, meeting a timetable set by Iraq and the United States last year in a bilateral agreement.

Charles Dharapak-AP

April 7

President Barack Obama shakes hands with Iraqi Prime Minister Nuri al-Maliki, right, during a surprise visit to Iraq. Obama said after meeting Maliki that his heart goes out to victims of recent violence in Iraq but that he remains convinced of "our shared resolve and commitment."

Mandel Ngan-AFP/Getty Images

President Obama reached out to the Muslim world, telling Turkey's Grand National Assembly that the United States "is not and never will be at war with Islam" and visiting the memorial to the founding father of the modern Turkish republic.

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"Our partnership with the Muslim world is critical not just in rolling back the violent ideologies that people of all faiths reject, but also to strengthen opportunity for all its people," Obama told the assembly. He added, "The future must belong to those who create, not those who destroy. That is the future we must work for, and we must work for it together."

Burhan Ozbilici-AP

The boulevard outside the presidential palace, where Obama met with Turkish President Abdullah Gul, was lined with American and Turkish flags. But there were also protests by several hundred people outside the parliament building.

Jason Reed-Reuters

Obama called on Turkey's leaders, who like many Muslims were angry over the scope of Israel's assault on the Gaza Strip last year, to show support for an Israeli-Palestinian peace process that at the moment appears dormant.

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At the memorial to Mustafa Kemal Ataturk, the founder of the modern Turkish regime, Obama marched in a formal procession, laid a wreath and wrote an inscription in a memorial book.

Pablo Martinez Monsivais-AP

President Barack Obama and Turkey's President Abdullah Gul review the honor guards during a welcoming ceremony at Cankaya Palace in Ankara. Obama vowed strong support for the Turkey's entrance into the European Union.

-Reuters

April 5

President Obama delivers a speech at Hradskany Square in Prague on April 5, 2009. Obama visited Prague to attend a summit with European Union leaders and give a keynote speech on nuclear proliferation.

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April 5

Obama delivers his remarks beside the statue of the first Czech President Tomas Garyk Masaryk at Hradskany Square in Prague. Obama condemned the North Korean launch of a rocket over Japan and into the Pacific Ocean over the weekend as a "provocative" act and used the incident as a fresh reminder of the world's dangers.

Joe Klamar-AFP/Getty Images

April 5

President Obama and first lady Michelle Obama take the stage before Obama addressed the crowd at Hradskany Square in Prague. Speaking just hours after the North Korean launch, Obama announced that he would immediately seek U.S. ratification of a ban on nuclear testing.

Charles Dharapak-AP

April 5

First Lady Michelle Obama walks past ancient Jewish tombstones in Prague, Sunday, April 5. The first lady paid a visit to the Jewish cemetery in Prague's Old Town while President Obama met with EU leaders. She was accompanied by Leo Pavlat, director of Prague's Jewish Museum.

Eva Korinkova -AP

April 5

Obama and the First Lady are greeted by Czech President Vaclav Klaus and his wife Livia Klausova at Prague Castle. During his speech, Obama recommitted his administration to the Pentagon's global missile-defense shield as long as Iran poses a nuclear threat. Polls show that about 70 percent of Czechs are against the shield, which would be based in part near Prague.

Charles Dharapak-AP

April 4

Obama and the First Lady arrive on April 4, in Prague. Obama flew into Prague ahead of a summit with European Union leaders.

Joe Klamar-AFP/Getty Images

April 4

Obama speaks during a press conference in Strasbourg, France on April 4, at the conclusion of the NATO summit. The summit, which marked the organization's 60th anniversary, took place in Strasbourg, France, and the neighboring German cities of Baden-Baden and Kehl.

Saul Loeb-AFP/Getty Images

Leaders of the 28 NATO member countries share in a group photo during the NATO summit on April 3-4. NATO allies handed President Obama a broad endorsement of his new Afghan strategy, pledging the temporary dispatch of 3,000 troops to protect Afghan elections next August, new military training teams to strengthen Afghanistan's army and more civilian experts to consolidate its government.

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April 4

First lady Michelle Obama, French first lady Carla Bruni-Sarkozy and husband of German Chancellor Angela Merkel, Joachim Sauer leave the Cathedral in Strasbourg, France. The spouses of the NATO country leaders took part in their own program during the two-day NATO summit.

Nigel Treblin-AFP/Getty Images

April 4

From right, German Chancellor Angela Merkel, French President Nicolas Sarkozy, NATO Secretary General Jaap de Hoop Scheffer, Obama and Secretary of State Hillary Clinton attend the North Atlantic Council Summit meeting on April 4, in Strasbourg during the NATO summit.

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April 3

Obama and first lady Michelle Obama are greeted by France's President Nicolas Sarkozy and first lady Carla Bruni at Palais Rohan in Strasbourg, France on Friday.

Charles Dharapak-AP

April 3

Obama embraces President Sarkozy upon arriving in France. The North Atlantic Treaty Organisation (NATO) military alliance is celebrating its 60th anniversary this week at the summit.

Christian Hartmann-Reuters

April 3

The Obamas are greeted by crowds as they arrive to meet President Sarkozy.

Charles Dharapak-AP

April 3

First lady Obama stands with French first lady Carla Bruni-Sarkozy at Palais Rohan in Strasbourg, France.

Charles Dharapak-AP

April 3

President Obama and President Sarkozy review an honour guard upon their arrival for the NATO summit in Strasbourg.

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April 3

President and first lady Obama and French President and first lady Sarkozy pose during the NATO summit arrival ceremony at the the Palais Rohan.

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April 3

President Sarkozy walks with President Obama, followed by their wives, during the NATO summit arrival ceremony.

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April 3

President Obama sits alongside President Sarkozy, both before speaking to the press corps before Obama held a town hall meeting.

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April 3

President Sarkozy speaks as President Obama looks on during their NATO summit press conference. The two leaders took questions from American and foreign journalists on expectations for the NATO summit.

Mandel Ngan-AFP/Getty Images

April 3

President Obama listens to a question from a member of the audience during a Town Hall meeting in Strasbourg. NATO military alliance is celebrating its 60th anniversary this week at a summit co-hosted by Germany and France.

Jason Reed-Reuters

April 3

President and first lady Obama, German Chancellor Angela Merkel and her husband Joachim Sauer wave as they arrive in the western German town of Baden-Baden on April 3, 2009. Obama and Merkel met for bilateral talks ahead of the two-day NATO summit.

Torsten Silz-AFP/Getty Images

April 3

President Obama and first lady Michelle shake hands with spectators during their walk to the city hall in Baden-Baden.

Jens Meyer-AP

April 3

President Obama and Chancellor Merkel review an honor guard upon Obama's arrival for bilateral talks.

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April 3

Chancellor Merkel, President Obama, first lady Michelle and Joachim Sauer stand at attention during a playing of national anthems at the market place near the town hall in Baden-Baden.

Yves Herman-Reuters

April 3

President Obama and Chancellor Merkel are welcomed by two girls in traditional Black Forest costumes prior to signing the golden book of the city of Baden-Baden. The president and chancellor are joing by Guenther Oettinger, head of the German state of Baden-Wuerttemberg, and Wolfgang Gerstner, mayor of Baden-Baden.

Winfried Rothermel-AP

April 3

President Obama and Chancellor Merkel speak at the City Hall in Baden-Baden on the first day of the NATO summit.

Saul Loeb-AFP/Getty Images

April 3

First lady Michelle Obama chats with Sauer during a meeting.

Maks Richter-AFP/Getty Images

April 2

President Obama walks into his press conference at the end of the G-20 Summit at the ExCel Centre in London. The objective of the London Summit is to bring the world's biggest economies together to help restore global economic growth through enhanced international coordination.

Kirsty Wigglesworth-AP

April 2

President Obama speaks during his press conference at the end of the G-20 Summit at the ExCel Centre in London.

Kirsty Wigglesworth-AP

April 2

President Obama took questions at the G20 summit in London. The g20 pledged to inject $1 trillion dollars into the global economy through the International Monetary Fund (IMF).

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April 2

President Barack Obama shakes hands with Saudi King Abdullah Bin Abdel Aziz during their meeting on the sideline of the G-20 Summit at the ExCel Centre in London.

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April 2

President Obama stands with Italy's prime minister, Silvio Berlusconi, center, and Russia's president Dmitry Medvedev, during the family photograph at the G-20 Summit in London. World leaders sparred over an agreement to tighten rules on financial markets, with Germany and France pushing for specific measures to rein in hedge funds and compensation as the U.S. and England urged unity.

Chris Ratcliffe-Bloomberg News

April 2

President Obama, second row, fourth from left, poses with other world leaders for the family portrait, including South Korean President Lee Myung-Bak, Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, and International Monetary Fund (IMF) Managing Director Dominique Strauss-Kahn.

Eric Feferberg-AFP/Getty Images

April 2

President Obama laughs with Turkish Prime Minister Tayyip Erdogan. Leaders from more than 20 major nations including the United States decided Thursday to make available an additional $1 trillion for the world economy through the International Monetary Fund.

Dylan Martinez-Reuters

April 2

President Obama and U.S. Treasury Secretary Tim Geithner talk as they attend a plenary session at the G-20 summit at the ExCel Centre in London, England.

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April 2

President Obama meets with South Korea's President Lee Myung-bak during their bilateral meeting at the G-20 Summit in London. Obama expressed admiration for Lee's "calm resolve" as North Korea plans to launch a nuclear missile test.

Jason Reed-Reuters

April 2

Sarah Brown, wife of Britain's Prime Minister Gordon Brown, greets first lady Michelle Obama, at a G-20 spouses visit to the Royal Opera House in London.

-Reuters

April 2

Mrs. Obama, fifth from left, poses with the spouses of heads of state from Japan, Canada, India, Korea, Britain, Mexico, Turkey, Russia, Australia, and Thailand at the Royal Opera House in Covent Garden in London, England.

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April 2

Mrs. Obama applauds dancers after they performed Giselle on stage during a visit to the Royal Opera House in London.

Joel Ryan/Pool-Reuters

April 1

Mrs. Obama congratulates student Brenda Mensah after her performance during a visit to Elizabeth Garrett Anderson Language School in London.

Jim Young-Reuters

April 1

President Obama and Mrs. Obama greet with Prince Charles, Prince Of Wales, left and Camilla, Duchess of Cornwall during a reception for world leaders at Buckingham Palace in London, England.

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April 1

President Obama and German Chancellor Angela Merkel attend a dinner at Downing Street in London. World leaders wrangled on how a London summit could fix the global economy as demonstrators attacked a bank in an anti-capitalist riot in the British capital.

Steffen Kugler-AFP/Getty Images

April 1

President Obama meets politicians from Saudi Arabia during a reception for world leaders attending the G-20 summit at Buckingham Palace in London, England.

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April 1

G-20 leaders' spouses, including Michelle Obama, and guests pose for a photo a dinner held at Downing Street, in London.

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April 1

President Obama and Mrs. Obama leave Downing Street following dinner in London, England.

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April 1

President Barack Obama, left, and his wife Michelle Obama pose for photographs with Queen Elizabeth II and Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh, right, at Buckingham Palace in London.

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April 1

Prime Minister Gordon Brown, second from left, and his wife Sarah, left, greet President Obama and first lady Michelle Obama as they arrive in Downing Street in London, England. Obama is making his first presidential trip to England as part of the G-20, a gathering of world leaders dedicated to tackling the global financial crisis.

Peter Macdiarmid-Getty Images

April 1

Prime Minister Brown, right, and President Obama walk to a news conference at the Foreign Office in London. World leaders are gathering in London for the G-20 summit amid an unprecedented security operation to protect the meeting from violent protests and terrorists.

Matt Dunham-AP

April 1

A protester talks to police outside the Bank of England as anti-capitalist and climate change activists demonstrate in the London. Protesters demanded action on poverty, climate change, and jobs, as world leaders arrived in London for the G-20 summit.

Dan Kitwood-Getty Images

April 1

President Obama meets with Russia's President Dmitry Medvedev at Winfield House, the U.S. Ambassador's residence in London. The two world leaders began a discussion on a new nuclear arms treaty during their meeting.

Charles Dharapak-AP

April 1

Mrs. Obama, right, and Sarah Brown, second from left, wife of the British Prime Minister Gordon Brown, talk with staff and patients during a visit to Maggie's Cancer Caring Center in London.

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April 1

President Obama meets with Chinese President Hu Jintao, left, and U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, right, during meetings at the Winfield House in London. Obama and Hu announced they will launch new strategic and economic dialogues, which Clinton will head for the Americans.

Saul Loeb-AFP/Getty Images

April 1

Climate change and anti-capitalist activists demonstrate outside a branch of the Royal Bank of Scotland in London.

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April 1

Russian President Medvedev and President Obama released a joint statement after their closed door meeting, saying, "We, the leaders of Russia and the United States, are ready to move beyond Cold War mentalities and chart a fresh start in relations between our two countries."

Vladimir Rodionov-AFP/Getty Images

April 1

Prime Minister Gordon Brown and President Obama speak during a press conference at the Foreign and Commonwealth Office in London. Obama said the United States accepts its share of the blame for the economic problems spiraling around the globe.

Anthony Devlin-AP

April 1

A protester smashes a window of a Royal Bank Of Scotland branch in London.

Carl De Souza-AFP/Getty Images

March 31

President Obama departs from the White House with first lady Michelle Obama for their trip to Europe.

Bill O'Leary-The Washington Post

March 31

President Obama and first lady Michelle Obama wave from the steps of Air Force One as they begin their eight day trip to Europe.

Jason Reed-Reuters

March 31

Air Force One is seen on the tarmac at Stansted Airport in Essex, England.

Pablo Martinez Monsivais-AP

March 31

President Obama and first lady Michelle Obama disembark Air Force One. Obama is scheduled to attend the G-20 Summit, a meeting of the world's major economic players. He will also attend a NATO summit.

Jason Reed-Reuters

March 31

President Obama arrived in Europe on the first overseas trip of his presidency to hold crucial meetings on the economic crisis and with America's military partners in NATO.

Mandel Ngan-AFP/Getty Images

March 31

President Obama and first lady Michelle Obama are greeted by Charge D'affairs Richard LeBaron, and his wife Jean Foshee LeBaron, upon their arrival in England.

Pablo Martinez Monsivais-AP

March 31

President Obama greets Britain's Chancellor of the Exchequer Alistair Darling after arriving in London. Mrs. Obama has a separate schedule while in London, which includes visiting an inner city school.

Charles Dharapak-AP

March 31

President Obama and Michelle Obama arrive on Marine One on the grounds of Winfield House, the U.S. Ambassador's residence in London.

Jason Reed-Reuters

March 31

President Obama and Mrs. Obama step off Marine One as they arrive at Winfield House in London.

Saul Loeb-AFP/Getty Images

March 31

President Obama and Mrs. Obama walk with Britain's Charge D'Affair's Richard LeBaron and his wife Jean Foshee LeBaron upon their arrival.

Obama, Medvedev Pledge CooperationArticle | LONDON, April 1 -- President Obama and Russian President Dmitry Medvedev announced the start of negotiations Wednesday on a new strategic arms-control treaty that would cut each nation's long-range nuclear arsenal further than previous agreements, inaugurating what both men indicated would be a more...

U.S. Signals New Era for Global EconomyArticle | LONDON, April 1 -- On the eve of a global economic summit here, President Obama delivered an unusual warning Wednesday for an American leader: The "voracious" U.S. economy can no longer be the sole engine of global growth.

After Launch, Obama Focuses On DisarmamentArticle | ANKARA, Turkey, April 6 -- President Obama arrived in Turkey on Sunday night as global condemnation of North Korea gave way to intense diplomatic debate about how to punish the rogue nation for the brazen weekend launch of a rocket over Japan and into the Pacific Ocean.

Broad U.S.-Russia Agreement in WorksArticle | LONDON, March 31 -- In their first face-to-face meeting, President Obama and Russian President Dmitry Medvedev are expected to announce agreement Wednesday on a broad statement of principles for cooperation between the two nations aimed at easing an increasingly strained relationship.

In Turkey, Obama Reaches Out to Muslim WorldArticle | ANKARA, Turkey, April 6 -- President Obama made his most direct outreach to Muslims around the world Monday, telling Turkey's Grand National Assembly that the United States "is not and never will be at war with Islam."

Obama Portrays Another Side of U.S.Article | ISTANBUL, April 7 -- President Obama concluded his inaugural overseas tour Tuesday after presenting to the world a starkly different image of the United States than his predecessor had, returning home from encounters with exuberant U.S. troops in Iraq, fawning crowds in Europe and Turkey, and...